 Northwestern State made its return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2003-04 season where they faced Duke in the first round, a 103-51 loss for the Demons.
 The Lady Demons fall to 0-1 all-time after their first ever meeting with Tennessee.
 This season's tournament is the seventh Division I postseason appearance for NSU, third in the NCAA.
 The loss snapped a seven-game win streak for Northwestern State, the longest of the season and more wins than the Lady Demons had in the season prior to co-head coaches Brooke and Scott Stoehr arriving on campus.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE

 Northwestern State held the Lady Vols to just 22 first half points, marking the second straight game the Lady Demons held their opponent to 22 points in the first half and the fewest points scored in the first half since the Lady Vols notched just 18 vs. Alabama on Feb. 2, 2014.

LEADERS

 Trudy Armstead lead the Lady Demons with 12 points on the night.
 Chelsea Rogers and Armstead also lead the team with six rebounds
 The Lady Demons played 14 athletes on the night, six tallied points.

TENNESSEE NOTES

THE SERIES & THE WIN

 Saturday's game marked the first time Tennessee and Northwestern State have met.
 With the victory, UT is 1-0 in the all-time series against the Lady Demons.
 Against Southland Conference teams, the Lady Vols are 7-3, including a 3-0 mark in NCAA postseason play.
 Tennessee will face the winner of the St. John's/Southern Cal game on Monday at 9 p.m. ET.

GRIND FOR 9

 UT made its 33rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament, making it the only program to be invited to every tournament.
In NCAA First Round games, the Lady Vols are now 26-1 all-time.
 When opening NCAA action in Knoxville during the First Round, Tennessee is now 21-0.
 The Big Orange is now 53-0 all-time in home NCAA games.
 In the NCAA Tournament, UT moves to 116-24 overall.

FOR STARTERS

 Today's starters: junior Cierra Burdick, sophomore Bashaara Graves, junior Isabelle Harrison, redshirt freshman Andraya Carter and senior Meighan Simmons.
 It was the 14th-straight game Tennessee has utilized the lineup, and the Lady Vols are now 14-1 with the quintet.
 Tennessee won the tip for the 30th time this season.
 Carter scored the Lady Vols' first basket with a lay-up. It's the second time this season that the redshirt freshman has scored UT's first points.
 Mercedes Russell was first off the bench for Tennessee, the 10th time this season the freshman has been called upon first.
 Junior point guard Ariel Massengale was on the bench. She suffered a facial injury during that game and missed Texas A&M (Jan. 26), Arkansas (Jan. 30), Alabama (Feb. 2), Ole Miss (Feb. 6) and Vanderbilt (Feb. 10). She was on the bench, but did not play against Kentucky (Feb. 16), Auburn (Feb. 20), South Carolina (March 2), LSU (SEC Tournament - March 7), Texas A&M (SEC Tournament - March 8) and Kentucky (SEC Tournament - March 9). She also missed at the Missouri (Feb. 23) and LSU (Feb. 27) away games.

CAN'T KEEP WARLICK DOWN

 Head Coach Holly Warlick missed Tennessee's shoot around Saturday morning due to suspected food poisoning.
 She sat an orange stool on the UT bench during the first half while assistant Kyra Elzy stood on the sidelines.
 Warlick was on her feet the entire second half, moving up and down the sideline actively coaching the team.

HOLDING THE OPPONENTS

 The Lady Vols held the Lady Demons to shooting just 35.8 percent (19-53) from the field.
When Tennessee has held its opponents to 40 percent or lower field goal shooting this season, UT has posted a perfect 23-0 record.
 UT has only allowed 10 teams to shoot better than 40 percent.

OFF THE GLASS

 The Lady Vols out-rebounded NSU, 47-27, with Bashaara Graves leading all players in the game with 12 boards.
 Tennessee has out-rebounded its opponents in every game but two (Stanford, Arkansas).
 The 20+ rebound margin was the most against Northwestern State since the Lady Demons were out-rebounded by 30 by Texas on Dec. 20, 2013.

TENNESSEE DEFENSE

 Tennessee's defense forced three shot clock violations from the Lady Demons, including two in the first half.
 UT held the Lady Demons to 46 points, marking the fewest points by an opponent during the NCAA First Round since UT-Martin's 49 points on March 17, 2012.

GRAVES ON THE BOARDS

 Bashaara Graves led the team with 12 rebounds, recording her fifth game this season with 10 or more boards.
 Her 12 boards are an NCAA high for the sophomore and the most for a Lady Vol since Glory Johnson pulled down 14 vs. No. 1 Baylor on March 26, 2012

DOUBLE DIGIT HARRISON

 With Isabelle Harrison's 12 points, she has now scored in double figures in 30 of UT's 33 games this season.

 At the halfway point, UT led 22-20 over Northwestern State.
 NSU's 20 points is the fewest the Lady Vols have allowed an opponent in the first half since Tennessee State scored 19 on Dec. 17.
 Isabelle Harrison led the Lady Vols with six points, while Andraya Carter and Meighan Simmons added five points apiece.
 Tennessee outrebounded the Lady Demons, 26-19, with Bashaara Graves leading all players in the game with six boards.
 UT shot 22.6 percent (7-31) in the first half while NSU shot 28.6 percent (8-28).
From the free throw line, UT was a perfect 6-for-6.
 The Lady Demons held a 10-8 edge in points in the paint during the first 20 minutes of action.

UP NEXT

 Tennessee's Grind for Nine continues in the NCAA Second Round and will face the winner of the St. John's/Southern Cal game on Monday, March 24, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.